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Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  USSO 

(716)  $72-4503 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographique* 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checited  below. 


D 


n 


D 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couveriure  de  couleur 


|~~1   Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommag6e 


□    Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurie  et/ou  peiiiculAe 


I      I    Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  giographiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


I      I    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
ReiiA  avec  d'autres  documents 


Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serrie  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  int6rieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajouties 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  Atait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  tti  filmies. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Comraentaires  supplAmentaires; 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  4tA  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique.  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite.  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mithode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquts  ci-dessous. 


I     I   Coloured  pages/ 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagies 

Pages  restored  and/oi 

Pages  restaurAes  et/ou  pelliculAes 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxei 
Pages  dicolorAes.  tachet6es  ou  piqu6es 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d6tach6es 


I     I  Pages  damaged/ 

I     I  Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 

r~~i  Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 

I     I  Pages  detached/ 


Th 
to 


Th 
po 
of 
filr 


Or! 
bei 
thi 
sio 
otf 
fin 
sio 
or 


r~lr  Showthrough/ 


Transparence 


I      I    Quality  of  print  varies/ 


D 


Qualit6  inigaie  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  mat6riel  supplAmentaire 


|~~|    Only  edition  available/ 


Th( 
shi 
TIR 
wh 

Ma 
diff 
ent 
be( 
rigl 
req 
me 


Seule  Edition  disponible 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  ref limed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata.  une  pelure. 
etc..  ont  AtA  filmAes  i  nouveau  de  fa9on  k 
obtenir  la  meiileure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film*  au  taux  de  rMuction  indiqu*  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


12X 


16X 


20X 


ii 


24X 


26X 


30X 


28X 


J2X 


ails 

du 

idifier 

une 

nage 


Tha  copy  filmad  hara  has  baan  raproducad  thanks 
to  tha  ganarosity  of: 

Library  Division 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Columbia 

Tha  imagas  appaaring  hara  ara  tha  bast  quality 
posslbia  considadng  tha  condition  and  lagibllity 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  kaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  spacifications. 


Original  copias  in  printad  papar  covars  ara  filmad 
baginning  with  tha  front  covar  and  anding  on 
tha  last  paga  with  a  printad  or  illustratad  impras- 
sion.  or  tha  back  covar  whan  appropriata.  All 
othar  original  copias  ara  filmad  baginning  on  tha 
first  paga  with  a  printad  or  illustratad  impras- 
sion,  and  anding  on  tha  last  paga  with  a  printad 
or  illustratad  imprassion. 


Tha  last  racordad  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  -^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  y  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


L'exemplaira  film*  fut  raproduit  grice  A  la 
ginArosit*  da: 

Library  Division 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Columbia 

Las  images  suivantas  ont  4t4  raproduitas  avac  le 
plus  grand  soin.  compta  tenu  de  la  condition  at 
da  la  nattat*  da  I'exemplaire  film*,  et  en 
conformity  avac  las  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmaga. 

Les  exemplairas  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimia  sont  film«s  9n  commenpant 
par  la  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
darniire  paga  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration.  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  las  autres  exemplairas 
originaux  sont  filmAs  an  commandant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  darniire  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
darniire  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  — »>  signifie  "A  SUIVRE  ",  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN '. 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
filmAs  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diffArents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichA,  il  est  film*  A  partir 
de  I'angle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nAcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
iiiustrant  la  mAthode. 


rata 

3 


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A 


J 


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1 

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t 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

i 


■TW™^ 


LETTER 


TO  THE 


HON.   JOHN  QUINCY  ADAMS. 


f 


ON  THE 


OREGON    QtEStlON. 


BY 


LUTHER  BAKER. 


NEW-BEDFORD : 

EVBNin.O    BVLLETin    FRE88. 

1816. 


'J- nil-  '^til  '.i  ■  i' 


LETTER. 


To  iAe  Hon.  John  Quincy  Adams, 

't.  Member  of  Congress: 

Dear  Sm : 

I  have  just  read  your  remarkable  and  lucid  speech, 
delivered  in  the  House  of  Representatives,  on  the  ninth 
day  of  February,  and  having  noticed  the  foundation  on 
which  you  so  confidently  rely  as  establishing  our  title 
to  the  whole  cf  the  Oregon  ferritory,  I  cannot  but  ad- 
mire the  firmness  of  mind,  and  that  reliance  upon  Di- 
vine authority,  which  you  manifest. 

If  there  can  be  no  possible  mistake  in  your  inter- 
pretation of  the  will  of  God  in  reference  to  our  right, 
ownership,  and  occupancy  of  the  whole  of  Oregon, 
yet  things  which  are  clear  to  some  minds  may  be  dark 
and  doubtful  to  others.  And  it  cannot  be  deemed 
strange  that  in  reference  to  the  Territory  in  question 
there  should  exist  an  honest  diflference  in  the  senti- 
ments and  views  of  mankind,  both  on  this  and  on  the 
other  side  of  the  Atlantic 

To  approach  such  a  man  as  I  esteem  you  to  be  in 
the  piirity  of  your  purpose,  with  such  universal  knowl- 
edge of  all  that  appertains  to  human  rights,  the  gov- 
ernments of  the  different  nations,  and  your  perfect  ac- 
quaintance with  the  whole  science  of  jurisprudence, 
and  whatever  has  existed,  or  does  exist  in  the  purposes 
or  pursuits  and  policy  of  them  all ;  To  approach  you, 
I  say,  with  the  most  distant  thought  of  the  least  possible 
criticism,  would  be  a  folly  on  my  part  which  could  not 
be  disguised  or  hidden  from  the  most  superficial. 

I  do  indeed  consider  you  as  one  of  the  most  pure, 
intelligent,  and  honest  leading  politicians  on  earth. — 
This  is  nothing  new  with  me,  but  I  have  noticed  your 
course  a  great  part  of  the  time  for  nearly  a  half  cen- 
tury past,  and  in  all  the  important  stations  which  you 


have  filled,  I  have  sticti  and  known  much  more  to  which 
I  give  my  unqualified  approbation  than  in  any  other 
public  man  on  whom  has  rested  from  time  to  time  such 
nigh  and  vast  respnn>ibilitics. 

(iranting  all  that  you  claim  for  our  own  country, 
it  does  not  in  the  whole  public  mind  do  away  the  fact 
at  present  that  Great  Britain  has  no  rii^ht  to  any  part 
of  Oregon. 

For  myself,  in  view  of  all  that  is  passed,  I  might 
entertain  doubts,  if  it  were  not  that  I  must  go  in  the 
face  of  your  explanation.  This  i  feel  loth  to  do,  fear- 
ing an  exposure  of  my  own  weakness,  and  having  such 
an  opirjion,  as  I  possess,  of  your  profound  understand- 
ing, and  sound  judgment.  You  will  therefore  regard 
me  as  yielding  whatever  may  have  conflicted  with  your 
views  of  the  ground,  or  foundation  of  out  title  to  Orc- 

fon,  or  to  any  other  territory  which  we  possess.  And 
will  pass  on  to  ask  one  question  on  the  present  state 
of  affairs  with  reference  to  that  territory.  It  is  this. 
How  ought  we  to  treat  another  christian  nation  claim- 
ing a  right,  at  least,  to  a  part  of  that  territory  ?  There 
ought  no  dispute  to  exist,  but  it  does  exist.  There 
Qught  not  to  be  any  contention,  but  there  is  contention. 
Sir,  it  is  cause  of  gre-t  regret  that  you  did  not  go 
on  with  your  speech,  for  I  presume  you  would  have 
given  JurtUcr  light  with  regard  to  the  duty  of  christian 
nations  towards  each  other,  when  difficulties  arise  bor 
tween  thcpi,  and  it  seems  unfortunate  that  legislative 
bodies  pay  so  little  attention  to  "  the  little  book,"  of 
which  you  spake.  I  recollect  that  several  years  ago  u 
distinguished  editor  of  a  newspaper  in  Boston,  express- 
ed his  surprise  that  there  were  several  clergynien  in  the 
Legislature  of  Massachusetts,  and  he  could  not  con- 
ceive how  they  should  be  there  unless  religion  was  con- 
sidered all  a  furce.  And  I  confess  my  great  surprise  at 
learning  that  *'  the  little  book,"  of  which  you  made 
mention  \yas  at  hand  "  on  the  Speaker's  table  "  in  the 
Hall  of  the  Representatives  of  the  nation  where  many 
scenes  of  late  years  have  been  enacted,  which  would 
have  disgraced  the  cabals  of  a  gambling  club. 

But  to  the  matter  in  question.     If  I  were  in  Con- 
gress, a  member  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  1 


5 


would  ask  the  Clork  to  turn  to  '>  the  little  book"  on 
the  Spoakcr's  table,  and  read  the  question  in  the  ninth 
Chapter  of  th«)  Acts  of  tho  Apostles  and  the  sixth  verse, 
and  ho  would  read  as  follows:  Lord,  what  wilt  thou 
have  me  to  do?  In  my  spocch  I  would  declare  this  i.^ 
my  motio,  and  in  my  conduct  I  mean  to  l)e  governed 
by  it  in  reference  to  Ore'^on.  if" any  member  object- 
ed, I  vould  refer  to  the  uxampleol  the  jrenileman  irom 
Massachusetts,  it  bein;^  the  very  l)est  that  was  ever 
^ll0vvn  upon  that  floor.  Then  I  would  request  the 
Clerk  to  turn  to  (icnesis,  the  thirteenth  chapter, 
Hcventh,  eighth,  and  ninth  verses,  and  he  would  read 
as  follows  :  And  there  was  a  strife  between  ihehcrdinen 
of  Abrnni's  rattle,  and  the  lirrdinrn  of  LoCs  cattle,  and 
the  Cuihaanitc,  and  the  Pcrizzitc  dwelt  then  in  the  land. 
And  Ahrmn  said  unto  Lot,  Let  there  be  nj  strife,  I  prat/ 
thee,  between  me  and  thee,  and  between  my  herdmen  and 
thy  lierdmrn ;  for  ive  be  brethren.  Is  not  the  whole  land 
before  thee?  Separate  thyself,  I  pray  thee,  from  me;  if 
tlioii  wilt  take  the  left  hand  then  I  will  qo  to  the  ri  :ht ;  or 
if  thou  depart  to  the  riqht  hand  then  I  will  go  to  the  left. 
Proceeding  then  upon  the  principle  that  every  inch  of 
territory  that  any  man  upon  earth  docs,  or  ever  can 
rightfully  possess,  the  ground  of  liis  title  is  found  in  tho 
"  little  book  "  upon  tho  Chairman's  table,  and  no  where 
else  but  there.  I  should  be  most  deeply  impressed,  and 
should  ask,  most  seriously  ask.  Lord,  ivhat  wilt  thou 
have  me  to  do  ?  I  should  indeed  pay  hut  little  regard  to 
popular  opinion  in  any  case,  if  it  conflicted  with  what 
I  should  become  convinced  the  Lord  would  have  mc 
to  do.  I  would  admit  youi  ground  by  which  you  say 
we  hold  all  the  title  we  have  to  any  of  our  possessions. 
And  after  admittmg  it,  1  would  frame  my  speech  in  the 
following  manner : 

Abram  should  stand  for,  or  represent  our  Govern- 
ment.    Lot  should  represent  that  of  Great  Britain 

The  territories  where  they  were  should  represent  Amer- 
ican and  British  territories.  The  contentious  herdmen 
should  represent  the  war  hawks  in  England  and  tho 
United  States.  And  the  Canianite,  and  tho  Perizzite 
should  represent  the  Indians  that  dwell  in  Oregon. 

In  my  speech  !  would  allow  imagination  some  play, 


and  it  I  could  find  a  little  to  indulge  la  1  should  have 
no  objection  to  its  indulgence  within  the  bounds  of  pru- 
dence. The  great  object  would  be,  not  to  find  out 
what  this  party,  or  that  party  mifrlit  think  of  me.  How 
much  it  would  cost  (or  gun  boiits  or  steamers,  a  navy 
and  fortifications,  an  army  and  armor.  1  should  lay 
aside  every  thing  but  just  the  matter  in  hand  ami  say. 
Lord,  what  wilt  thou  have  me  in  do  ?  To  be  sure,  I  would 
bring  up  all  these,  or  any  one  of  them,  should  I  think  I 
could  get  any  light  to  teach  me  what  the  i.ord  would 
have  me  to  do.  But  my  meaning  is,  that  nehher  profit, 
nor  loss,  nor  honor,  nor  disgrace,  nor  land,  nor  money 
should  influence  me.  If  1  could  only  find  out  Ciod's 
will  concerning  me,  I  would  do  it.  I  should  tnake 
great  use  of  what  Abram  said  and  did.  There  was 
trouble,  and  1  almost  wish  we  could  have  more  of  the 
history  of  those  hcrdmcn.  'ihcy  wore  an  uneasy  set  of 
fellows,  so  are  our  war-hawks.  There  seems  to  have 
been  nothing  in  Abram's  or  Lot's  mind  of  an  irritable 
nature  towards  each  other,  till  the  lierdmen  got  at  it, 
and  Abram  then  feared  that  Lot  might  be  inlluenced 
by  them,  and  consequently  a  strilc  t.ike  place  between 
him  and  his  nephew.  Abram  was  a  good  man.  He 
did  not  lack  spirit,  but  was  very  conscientious.  He 
knew  what  to  do.  So  he  went  to  Lot,  and  did  his  duty. 
JHe  said.  Let  there  be  no  strife  brtwee.n  vie  and  thee. — 
How  different  from  what  we  now  see  and  hear.  Now 
it  is,  let  war  come.  1  believe  there  will  be  war,  let  it 
come,  the  honor  of  the  nation  is  at  stake,  and  that  is 
more  than  all  riches  and  peace  and  prosperity.  All  is 
to  be  sacrificed  to  their  God  of  war.  No  matter,  we 
must  all  die  sooner  or  later.  And  if  thousands  die  by 
the  sword,  if  they  are  slain  on  the  battle  held,  they  do 
but  die,  and  die  they  must,  if  not  slain  by  the  sword  — 
Shall  we  act  like  Abram  ?  Succumb  to  Great  Britain  ? 
and  say  to  her,  let  there  be  no  strife.  No  !  VV'c  will 
have  all  that  belongs  to  us.  And  further.  Let  there 
be  no  strife,  I  pray.  Infamous!  My  blood  boils.  I 
pray  thee.  Horrible!  To  arms,  to  arms.  Oregon 
we  will  have — the  whole  of  it.  We  will  fight  you. — 
We  will  have  the  whole  or  none.  What  a  method  to 
preserve  peace,  and  to  promote  good  temper !      To 


settle  national  dieputes  about  territory  !  No !  Give 
the  bowie  knife  for  our  neighbor,  the  sword,  pistol,  and 
rifle  (or  gentlemen,  and  all  these,  and  gun  boats,  and 
steamers,  a  iiuvy,  an  army  and  oi'dinancc,  and  Oregon 
is  ours  (orever.  li  1  am  not  cgregiously  deceived,  the 
herdmen  on  both  fides,  would  rather  get  it,  by  such 
means,  than  that  cither  Ciod,  or  man  should  givo  it  to 
them.  All  this  array,  Etir,  and  threatening  takes  place 
before  nny  one,  at  home  or  abroad,  absolutely  says,  you 
shall  not  have  it.  '1  he  true  secret  is,  if  there  be  one, 
but  1  think  there  is  none,  for  it  seems  that  the  herdmen 
would  rather  fight  than  not.  They  seek  occasion  to 
set  our  Abram,  and  J  ,ot  at  variance,  to  effect  their  own 
selfish  purposes.  They  are  not  like  our  wi.se,  profound, 
and  patriotic  statesmen  who  have  the  good  of  the  coun- 
try at  heart.  With  the  war-hawks,  the  catch-word  is 
honor,  but  the  meaning  is  fi<^ht.  1  would  then  say.  Sir, 
the  foundation  ol  all  the  litle  to  territory  recorded  in 
Genesis,  was,  1  think,  as  well  understood  by  Abram  who 
saw  the  day  of  Christ  afar  off,  as  by  any  man  now  liv- 
ing. And  as  a  diflcrent state  ol  things  existed,  especially 
in  relation  to  morals,  and  the  indulgence  of  human  pas- 
sions at  that  time,  from  that  which  existed  when  the 
foundation  to  the  title  wrs  granted,  for  that  was  before 
the  fall  of  man,  and  about  two  thousand  years  before 
Abram's  day.  1  think  no  man  living  can  be  a  better 
pattern  for  us  to  follow,  than  that  venerable  Patriarch, 
especially  as  he  knew  so  well  how  to  manage  a  difficul- 
ty in  which  he  was  so  deeply  interested,  and  in  which  his 
relative  and  friend  had  as  much  at  stake  probably  as 
himself,  lie  faw  at  once  that  his  own  power,  and  au- 
thority, and  that  of  Lot  also  was  required  to  put  down 
the  villains  that  were  disturbing  the  peace  of  both  fam- 
ilies, without  the  least  profit  to  either,  and  to  the  injury 
of  both.  i!c  was  a  great  man.  Ho  ruled  his  own 
spirit,  and  showed  himself  better  than  he  that  taketh  a 
city.  O  that  such  were  our  Abram,  and  that  such  were 
Britain's  Lot!  There  would  be  no  more  trouble  in 
surmounting  the  difficulty  about  Oregon,  than  a  son  of 
Anak  would  have  in  getting  over  a  mole-hill.  And' 
now  for  men  who  keep  the  "  little  t-^ok  "  upon  the 
Speaker's  table,    and  who   ought    to    see    that  the 


s 


^ruuiul  ot  thfir  title  tu  all  that  tlioy  |x>frs«8ii  m  ther«, 
i\iu\  no  where  else  but  there  ;  lor  them  to  talk  of  war, 
huilding  war-steamers,  and  of  lurni^hin*?  every  thing 
for  ollciisivn  and  defensive  war,  I  declare,  it  peerns  to 
deinand  a  doubt  whether  soir'?  of  them  l)elievc  that  thr 
Ijord  ever  gave  them  a  title  to  a  single  inch  of  ground 
in  the  world,  for  it  seems  that  they  jneati  to  fight  »oget 
that  in  Oregon,  and  if  so,  they  mean,  it  they  can  find 
occasion,  to  fu;ht  to  keep  it. 

NVluit  would  Father  Abraham  s.iy  to  christian  na- 
tions, to  those  who  believe,  who  arc  blessjU  with  him, 
to  see  them  beating  their  plough-shares  into  swords, 
and  their  pruning  hooks  into  spears  to  plunge  them 
into  a  brother's  heart.  Alas!  'I'ell  it  not  in  Ciath. — 
Publish  it  not  in  Ore'jon,  to  the  C  anaanite,  and  Feriz- 
zitc  who  now  dwell  in  that  land,  lest  they  say,  tlie  sons 
of  Abram  are  n^orc  cruel  than  the  untutored  heathen 
who  now  roam  in  the  forest. 

1  would  say,  Sir,  as  Abram  knew  liow  to  treat  a 
mattter  of  such  serious  concern,  and  to  manage  such 
an  unruly  set  of  hcrdmcn  as  iiis  own,  and  those  who 
belonged  to  the  family  of  Lot,  how  should  governments 
learn  to  treat  their  citizens  and  subjects.  'I'hey  should 
never  excite  them  with  inflammatory  speeches.  Tiiey 
should  discourage  all  recourse  to  arms  until  things  were 
brought  to  extremities.  They  should  speak  calmly  to 
each  other,  and  even  beseech  each  other  to  say,  Let 
there  be  no  strife  bef'vecn  me  and  thcd 

Herdmen  should  not  be  allowed  to  say  one  word, 
as  herdmen,  until  the  governments  themselves  had  de- 
cided what  to  do  in  every  case.  Their  business  is  to 
light,  if  they  have  any,  and  no  one  needs  their  counsels 
All  know  their  mind  without  asking  them.  Let  it  rtot 
be  thought  that  I  include  all  military  men  in  this  coun- 
try, or  in  l^ngland.  No.  He  that  would  charge  to  the 
cannon's  mouth  to  save  his  country,  is  a  very  difTcrent 
man  from  the  herdmen  of  cither  Abram  or  Lot. 

How  dignified  was  the  language  of  Abram  to  Lot ! 
Let  there  be  no  strife  between  me  and  thee.  Would  the 
power,  energy,  or  courage  of  an  individual,  or  any 
number  of  men  be  impaired  now,  were  such  language 
used  by  them  ?     Certainly  not.     Was  the  spirit  of  lib- 


J) 


orty,  the  Imtrod  of  tYfiuiiiy,  mid  opprossiuii  <|ucnchml, 
or  diminished  intho  ^rc^t  Wnshiriiftoii,  Fratikhn,  AduinH, 
Warren,  and  I'litniun,  and  a  ho«t  of  other  wortliiea  by 
their  forbearnnco  r  i\o.  VVlien  tlioy  rose  np,  it  was  in 
tile  majesty  ol  their  strength,  girt  with  a  consciousness 
that  they  had  done  aU  they  rj\\d  do  to  perpetuate  ponce 
before  they  drew  the  sword  from  the  scabbard.  But 
liow  behold  our  herdmcn  are  going  to  ^iiow  fight  at 
once,  and  conquer,  with  six  or  eight  steamers,  the  great- 
est nmratimo  power  on  the  globe.  I  think  it  would  bo 
better  for  them  to  read  in  the  *'  little  book,"  on  tho 
speaker's  table,  what  the  King  of  Israel,  by  his  servant, 
«aid  to  fienhudad.  Let  not  him  that  girdcth  on  his 
harness  boast  iiiia^elf,  as  he  that  putte»h  it  oH".  And  1 
think  it  would  be  well  to  send  some  of  them,  for  the 
present  over  the  rocky  mountain  to  some  secjuesterod 
spot,  some  Jericho,  and  let  them  there  remain  till  iheir 
beard  be  grown. 

Sir,  the  Canaanitc,  and  the  Perizzitc  dwelt  in  the" 
land.  The  Indians  arc  in  Oregon,  and  it  is,  at  least,  a 
weighty  question  about  their  expulsion.  I  know  not 
tiiat  Abram  wanted  to  expel  those  Canaanites  and  Per- 
icntes  that  dwelt  in  the  land,  for  he  seems  to  have  been 
a  very  peaceable  man,  and  his  greatest  friend,  to  whom 
he  was  niost  tenderly  united,  was  Mclchisedec,  King  of 
•Salem,  and  Priest  of  the  Most  High  God.  He  was 
King  of  righteousness^  and  after  that  King  of  Salem, 
which  is  King  of  peace.  Yet,  if  Abram  was  compell- 
ed to  fight,  he  fought  to  purpose.  He  did  not  explore 
the  countries  every  where  to  find  rivers  and  creeks,  and 
claim  them,  and  then  get  up  a  <]uarrel,  lest  at  some 
time  or  other  before  the  end  of  the  world,  some  body 
might  paddle  up  and  down  them  in  a  flat-bottom  skill', 
or  Indian  canoe,  and  fight  the  worlrl  to  prevent  it.  He 
pursued  business  upon  a  more  dignified  and  enlarged 
scale.  He  did  not  keep  forever  changing  his  policy, 
andteazing,  and  perplexing  his  own  family,  and  disjoint- 
ing, and  clogging,  and  deranging  their  pursuits  by  sot- 
ting up  plans  for  the  support  oi  his  government,  and 
upsetting  them  once  or  twice  a  year,  so  that  the  herd- 
men  could  hardly  know  where  to  pasture  their  cattle, 
or  those  who  used  the  mattock,  where  to  prepare  the 


m 

ground  for  planting.     He,  and  they  all  kept  about  their 
business  steadily,  unless  they  were  disturbed  by  the 
contentious  herdmen,  and  he  knew  well  how  to  silence 
them,  and  when  a  proper  time  came  up  for  them  to 
defend  themselves,  or  their  friends  by  force,  Abram  did 
it  to  purpose,  but  always  in  what  he  considered  a  righ- 
teous canise.    So  after  four  kings  came  down  upon 
Sodom,  and  sacked  it,  and  carried  away  Lot,  Abram's 
brother's  son ;  as  soon  as  he  got  the  intelligence,  there 
was  no*  delay  on  his  part,  he  armed  his  servants  ut 
once^    His  committee  of  ways  and  means  had  attended 
to  their  business,  the  weapons  were  on  hand  and  paid 
for.     I  tell  you.  Sir,  af)cr  all  the  improvements  for  about 
four  thousand  years,  that  the  present  age  know  not  any 
better  how  to  manage  the  aflfairs  that  concern  them, 
than  Abram  did ;  indeed,  many  of  them  not  half  so  well. 
Abram  attacked  the  enemy  at  once,  it  was  the  right 
time  to  do  it,  and  rescued  his  nephew,  and  with  him  all 
the  goods,  the  womeA-  also  and  the  people.     And  the 
kim  of  Sodom  went  out  to  meet  him.    And  the  king  of 
Sodom  said  unto  Abram,  Give  me  the  persons  and  take 
the  goods  to  thyself.    There,  Sir,  look  at  the  reply,  And 
Abram  said  to  the  king  of  Sodom,  I  have  lifted  up  my 
hand  to  the  Lord,  the  Most  High  God,  the  possessor  of 
heaven  and  earth,  that  I  will  not  take  from  a  thread, 
even  to  a  shoe-Iafchet,  and  that  I  will  not  take  anything 
that  is  thine,  lest  thou  shouldest  say,^  I  have  made  Abram 
rich.    Now,  Sir,  if  any  one  wishes  to  see  heroic  valor, 
let  him  read  "  the  little  book."    If  he  wants  to  see  a 
noble  mind,  let  him  look  at  Abram.    If  he  wishes  to  see 
a  generous,  independent  spirit,  let  him  look  at  the  holy 
patriarch.     And  if  patriots  wish  to  support  the  honor, 
the  dignity  and  independence' of  their  respective  nations, 
then  let  our  Abram  and  Lot  say  to  each  other.  Let 
there  be  no  strife  between  me  and  thee,  nor  between  my 
herdmen  and  thy  herdmen,  I  pray  thee,  and  just  stop  the 
clamor  of  war-hawks,  and  then  at  least,  in  a  civil  and 
political  sensev  peace  will  flow  unto  tis  as  a  river,  and 
righteousness  as  the  waves  of  the  sea.     Sir,  it  is  my 
opinion  that  Abram  as  readily  acknowledged  the  rights 
of  the  Canaanite  and  Perizzite  that  dwelt  in  the  land  as 
he  claimed  his  own.     And  as  he  was  a  man  of  God,  he 


11 

readily  gave  them  every  protection  in  his  power.  But 
now  it  seems  that  many  think  that  the  color  of  the  skin, 
the  straight,  or  curly  hair,  and  the  appearance  of  the 
teeth,  and  eyes,  determine  who  ought  to  possess  Oregon, 
Texas,  California,  Yucatan,  and  all  the  rest  of  the  world. 
And  if  a  man  be  born  with  a  dark  skin  and  curly  hair, 
it  is  a  crime,  he  is  proscribed,  tiid  not  albwed  to  own 
an  inch  of  ground  upon  the  face  of  the  earth,  ladeed, 
he  is  not  permitted  to  own  himself. 

From  all  the  ideas  that  1  have  ever  formed  of 
Lucifer,  son  of  the  morning,  «ven  afler  liis  fall,  I  have 
never  thought  that  he  would  confess  that  he  was  in  pos- 
session of  such  sentiments,  for  fear  he  might  blush  at 
what  many  of  our  people  maintain  widi  such  bold 
effrontery.  Sir,  from  the  manner  in  which  the  gentle- 
man from  MassachL.  etts  has  treated  srbjects  of  this 
sort,  I  have  no  doubt  he  will  descend  to  jtbe  grave  with 
the  wrath  of  the  oppressor  of  our  race,  aimed  at  him  to 
the  uttcrmo^,  and  with  the  cppisobation  ofhis  own  con- 
science, of  all  good  men,  and  .that  which  is  infinitely 
more,  the  approbation  of  God. 

i>ir,  the  sentiments  of  some  of  o«r  people  and  the 
herdmen  in  particular,  seem  to  be,  to  keep  all  we  have, 
and  to  get  ail  we  can.  Or  in  other  words  to  own  all 
the  land  we  have,  and  all  that  joins  iit,  and  then  cross 
over,  and  take  the  islands  of  the  sea.  1  have  no  doubt 
some  have  in  idea  ere  this,  compassed  Cape  Horn,  as 
part  and  parcel  of  these  United  States.  I'his,  indeed, 
is  rail-road  speed  with  a  witness,  and  I  am  afraid,  it  we 
do  not  lower  the  steam,  and  check  the  herdmen  v'  . 
cry,  make  it  hotter,  make  it  hotter,  we  shall  burst  tne 
boiler,  or  throw  the  whole  train  off  the  track,  and  kill, 
at  least,  one  half  of  the  passengers,  and  that  the  world 
passing  by  witl  in<;ck,  and  say,  these  fellows  undertook 
to  run  the  swiftest,  and  moat  unexampled  race,  and 
were  unable  to  fiBish. 

Sir,  I  think  by  this  time,  that  if  I  were  in  Congress, 
instead  of  being  where  I  am,  I  should  hear  the  wordsi, 
order,  order^  irrelevant,  he,  &c.  But  to  return.  I 
would  say.  Sir,  Great  Britain  is  our  relative.  Lot  was 
Abram's  brother's  son.  The  cases  are  not  exactly  par< 
allcl.    Great  Britain  i^  the  parent  country.     It  is  true, 


m 

wc  liave  had  our  fanuly  cjuarrcls,  but  it  would  have  been 
better  for  Lot  to  liave  said  to  us,  It' thou  Avilt  depait  to 
the  right  hand,  I  will  go  to  the  left.  But  waving  every 
thing  about  the  cause,  prosecution,  and  consequences 
of  these  quarrels,  let  us  turn  our  attention,  mure  partic- 
ularly to  modern  Lot.  He  has  herdmen  like  our  herd- 
men,  and  there  is  strife  between  liis  and  ours,  and  I 
would  to  God,  if  there  must  be  war,  and  if  our  modern 
Abram  and  Lot  shtjuid  prove  recreant  to  the  principles 
of  ancient  Abram  and  Lot,  and  let  loose  the  dogs  of 
war  on  both  sides,  that  those  who  compose  thetwocabr 
inets  should  be  placed  in  the  fore  front  of  the  hottest 
battle,  and  they  together  with  their  herdmen  have  to 
fight  it  out  without  a  single  soul  to  help  them.  But 
before  I  proceed  further,  1  ought  to  tell  the  reason  why 
I  have  chosen  Abram  to  represent  us.  It  is  because  I 
love  my  country  and  its  institutions,  all  but  one  which 
hangs  like  an  incubus  about  the  neck  of  our  nation,  and 
will  if  not  removed  as  surely  sink  us  into  ruin,  as  we 
now  have  an  existence.  But  Lot  is,  and  has  been  very 
much  to  blame,  he  had  no  right  to  say  that  he  was  pre* 
pared  to  meet  us,  and  contend  with  us,  and  then  for  the 
herdmen  to  shout  a  huzza.  It  was  all  wrong.  So  did 
not  Abram.  So  did  not  Lot.  And  though  we  call  th« 
governments  by  these  names  so  honored  in  the  past 
time,  yet  when  we  view  the  contrast  in  the  present, 
both  their.^,  and  ours,  we  say  as  the  "  little  book  "  on 
the  Speaker's  table  says.  How  are  the  mighty  fallen ! 
How  is  the  gold  become  dim !  How  is  tlie  most  fine  gold 
changed !  O  that  our  government  had  tiie  magnanimity 
of  Abram.  O,  that  the  British  had  that  of  Lot!  But 
if  to  war  they  will  go,  I  will  say  of  them,  as  the  Patriarch 
said  of  ^-imcon  and  Levi,  instruments  of  cruelty  are  in 
their  habitations.  O  my  soul,  come  not  thou  into  their 
secret ;  unto  their  assembly,  mine  honor,  be  not  thou 
united. 

Now,  Sir,  it  may  be  objected  that  my  remarks  are 
inappropriate,  because  the  ancient  governments  were 
patriarchal,  and  therefore  no  example  ought  to  be  re- 
garded by  u?,  which  they  have  shown.  But  so  far  from 
this  is  the  fact,  tliat  the  patriarchal  is  chosen  to  show 
what  should  be  the  spirit  of  our  Abram,  and  Lot  toward 


13 

each  otiier.  Was  that  of  A  brain  and  Lot  brotherly  ?— 
So  is  ours.  Were  they  professors  of  the  sa;ne  religion  ? 
So  are  we.  D\d  they  descenc]  from  the  swne  parents  f 
So  have  we.  Did  they  mutually  enjoy  the  advantages 
of  trade,  of  commerce  ?  So  do  we.  Were  they  socially 
and  afTectionately  bound  to  each  other?  We  have 
similar  ties,  and  enjoyments,  and  mutual  affections.-^ 
And  shall  we  fight?  Sooner  let  our  right  hand  forget 
its  cunning,  than  to  raise  it  to  plunge  the  dagger  into 
our  brother's  bc^o^)'  Shal)  we,  in  time  of  peace,  sit 
together  at  the  tahle,  in  memory  of  the  body  and  blood 
of  the  Lord,  and  tlien  in  time  of  war  thrust  the  deadly 
weapon  into  each  others  heart  ?  Does  the  religion  of 
the  Prince  of  Peace,  authorise  this  ?  Will  he  who  came 
not  to  destroy  men^s  lives  but  to  save  tliem,  allow  this  ?-r- 
But,  O  the  herdmen  on  both  sides.  Let  them  bo 
silenced,  and  we  shall  do  well  enough.  For  where  no 
wood  is,  tlie  fire  goeih  out,  so  where  there  is  no  tattling, 
whispering,  brawling  war-hawks,  stfife  ceasetli.  For 
as  coah  are  to  burning  coals,  and  uood  to  fire,  so  is  a 
contentious  man  to  kindle  strife. 

1  never  thought.  Sir,  of  getting  up  a  speech  to  be 
delivered  in  Congress,  ajiy  more  than  of  going  to  the 
moon  to  deliver  one,  until  I  read  your  speech,  which 
poured  such  a  flood  of  light  upon  my  soul  and  mind, 
that  I  now  think  I  could  not  only  speak  my  hour,  if  I 
were  an  honored  member  of  that  august  body,  (for  there 
are  honorable  men  there  after  all,)  Ixit  a  whole  day  if 
needful.  For  most  seriously  I  do  consider  you  to  have 
presented  the  true  and  only  ground  of  our  title  to  every 
inch  of  territory  that  wc  possess.  And  that  not  only 
scripturally,  but  also  philosophically,  with  a  clearness, 
and  force  which  sophistry,  or  artifice,  or  learning  can- 
not set  aside,  or  obscure. 

To  the  Speaker,  I  would  say,  Sir,  my  first  object 
is  to  put  down  the  herdmen,  for  nothing  can  be  done  to 
purpose  until  ttiat  is  done,  and  this  will  be  apparent  to 
every  fair  mind  when  the  whole  case  is  duly  considered. 
Between  them  the  strife  already  exists,  and  if  it  contin- 
ues, and  continue  it  will,  until  they  are  made  to  know 
their  place,  Abram  and  I  .ot  are  every  day  liable  to  get 
at  variance  through  their  pernicious  influence.      And 


^ 


how  ahnll  this  influence  be  suppressed  ?  Sir,  Abram  nnd  I<<»1  both 
must  tell  them  that  they  will  no  longer  listen  to  <heir  bickerings. — 
And  if  they  do  an  aet  of  violence  hereafter  among  themselves,  they 
shall  he  regarded  by  them  ac  refractory  hc-rdmen,  and  be  dealt  with 
Accordingly.  Let  Abram  and  Lot  do  this,  and  the  whole  business, 
iTespicting  Oregon  will  be  speedily  adjusted  and  settled.  The 
■Ganaaiiite  asd  Perizzitc  will  dwell  safely  in  the  land.  The  territo- 
iry  will  soon  be  replenished,  and  the  wilderness  bud  aitd  blossom  as 
the  rose. 

Sir^the  contempt  poiired  by  some  i^on  commercial  pursuits  is 
too  mean  to  claim  much  r^ply.     Trade  conducted  upon  fair  princi- 
ples as  lionorable,  and  I  would  here  say  to  those  gentlemen  who  re- 
side ifar  back  iu  the  country,  and    who  think  that  the  .distresses  of 
war  can  never  reach  themiin  their  secure  tctrent,  that  it   would  be 
better  for  tliem  <o  have  some  little  regard  to  dollars  aud  cents  in 
their  calculations;  for  if  chcy  go  to  wur  for  Oregon  «nd   take   it, 
'.every  rabbit  will  cost  them  more  than  a  yoke  of  oxen  does  now,  and 
.every  squirrel,  more  than  a  three  year  old  steer.     And   your   land 
will  be  taxed,  and  you  will  have  to  pay  for  them,  at  those  enormous 
iprices.     You  cannct  prevent  it, 'for  when  commerce  is  crushed,  the 
money  must  come  out  of  you.     I  then  would  prctceed  in  a  grave  and 
-solemn  manner,  and  I  believe  I  -should  feel  it,  to  tell  the  gentlemen, 
4hnt  a  crisis  seems  to  be  approaahing,  either  for  the  weal  or  wo  of 
millions  of  the  human  family,  and  that  now  a  greater  responsibility 
ircsts  upon  us,  than  at  any  former  perio«l,  however  eventful.      That 
itlie  eyes  of  (ill  the  civilized  world  are  upon  us,  and  that  the  steps  of 
x>ur  government  will  stamp  (he  nation  with  a  black   and   indelible 
rStain  of  eternal  infamy,  or  raise  it  to   honor  and  distinction  among 
uhe  nations  of  the  earth  far  beyond  the  most  splendid  triumphs  that 
Rome  over  witnessed. 

Sir,  iu  view  of  what  is,  and  that  which  may  soon  come  to  pass 
in  all  liumaH  i))robabiility,  if  the  wisdom  of  our  national  councds 
■does  not  arrest  the  apparent  progress  of  things  in  their  j)re8ent 
•course  and  direction,  we  may  «oon  hear  that  wb^ich  may  cause  erernr 
.ear  to  tingle,  and  many  hearts  >lo  melt. 

I  apprehend  it  wdl  be  ultimately,  if  war  «honld   take   place, 
Avorsc  for  Greet  Itrituin,  than  fur  us.      But   we  shall  wade  .through 
blood  and  carnage  to  obtain  thejnurels  which  arc  to  dockttite  brow 
oif  .the  conquoror  when  lie  returns  from  the  fieid,  the  acddama  of 
his  siiTugglcs,  and  his  triumph.     Great  Britain  is  probably    looking 
for.. ard'to  a  bffoad  dash  upon  oui  trade,  which  is  to  ifilt  her  coffers 
with  the  vast  rtr«asures  which  \\ie  have  floating  upon  the  bosom   of 
every  ocean,  and  the  tol«l  wredi  of  our  flourishing  commerce^  and 
•with  the  whole  world.     She  will,  if  we  have  war,  undoubtedly  makA 
;Z  great  sweep,  and  then  be  rea«ly  to  negotiate,  and  divide  Oregon, 
but  will  deceive  herself  most  egregiously  in   her  mistaken   calcula> 
tion,  for  she  will,  in  the  end,  f(M'  every  4qUar  of  gain,  have  to  en- 
dure a  loss  of  ten.     The  Republic,  so  stow  in  getting  prepared,  will 
ibe  but  just  ready  to  begin  the  contest,  and  not  an  ocean  will  be  clear 
.of  public  and  private  armed  ships,  to  prey  upon   her  commerce  in 
'tiifu.     Let  her  drive  us  back  from  some  of  our  sea  ports,  it  will 
Muly  be  like  a  river  running  back  uiion  itself,  and  it  will  cost  her 


15 


more  to  come  and  burn  out  (owns,  and  rillhgcr,  than  tfio  pIundcK 
she  will  obtain,  to  help  pay  #be  expense,  and  she  will  not  be  so  well* 
oft  as  when  she  began,  and  #e  shall  gain  nothing  in  such  a  squabble. 
Iniieed  1  would  rather  that  SUf  Robert  Peel,  in  Parliament,  should' 
'iiout,  and  say  alt  ready  for'  nt  weeks,  and  the  rest  huzza  for'  six 
weuks  together,  and  General  Cass,  and  Mr.  Allen  resolve  and  re- 
resolve,  and  then  resolve  again,  than  to  see  only  one  such  scene  as 
i  one  day  witn«>sscd  in  a  smaN  town  in  the  war  of  ihe  revolution. 

Sir,  I  can.  see  our  bold,-  taunting  heroes  returning  in  imagina-- 
tion  from  the  field  and  standiing  in  the  presence  of  tens  of  thousandsr 
to  receive  the  homage  of  thef  nation,  and  removing  the  military  cov- 
ering  of  the  head,  to  receive  the  laurels  which  are  to  dbck  their 
brow  as  a  reward  of  a  grateful  people  for  their  services  in'  the  work 
of  blood  and  death,  and  looking  to  the  Presidential' (ihair  with  in- 
tense desire,  and  imagining  With  what  dignity  and  grace  they  will 
fill  that  chair.  But  with  them,  as  with  others,  the  etid  is  not  ytt.-^ 
They  have  not  yet  girded  on  the  harness,  and  if  they  do,  it  is  as  un' 
certain  who  will  put  it  off,  as  it  was  to  Packingham,  <>f  Ross,  before 
they  landed  on  our  coast. 

I  have  not  the  least  apprehension  that  the  skill,  or  prowess  in 
war  of  our  «uiemy,  will  outdo  that  which  our  own  countrymen  will 
manifest  in  the  sharpest,  or  hottest  coftiest,  nor  that  brother  Jona- 
than will  not  kill  as  many  of  John  Butt's  men,  as  John  Bull  can  of 
his,  with  equal  numbers  on  both  sides.  Indeed  I  would  rather  have 
the  chance  of  life  with  Jonathan,  than  With  John,  for  Jonathan  has 
learned  that  there  is  no  fair  play  in  figh^g,  and  that  if  he  only  puts 
a  ball  through  an  Englishman's  heart,  "any  way  he  can  fix  itf,"  he 
is  as  surely  a  dead  man  as  if  he  shot  him  ever  so  scientifically. 

Sir,  I  would  say^  after  thanking  the  Hoose,  for  their  patience 
in  hearing  me  with  so  much  attention,  Aere  is  but  one  question 
more  on  which  I  will  detain  you  at  present  npon  the  important  sub- 
ject of  debate  before  us,  and  that  is  in  vie#  of  the  statement  and 
explanation  o(  the  gentleman  from  MassachMetts,  of  the  ground  of 
our  right  to  Oregon ;  and  that  is  whether  Great  Britain,  Bcnmurk, 
or  Swelen,  hate  not  as  much  right  to  it,  as  we  have,  if  they  are 
christian  natiomr.  I  only  mention  this  ar  A  thought  that  crosses 
my  mind  in  view  of  that  quotation  from  the  "  little  book  "  on  the 
Speaker's  '"*^''>,'imd  which  is  fouivd  in  the  latter  part  of  St.  Mat- 
thews'Gospei,  which  reads  thus:  All  power  is  (riven  vTilo  me  in 
heaven  and  in  earth,  go  ye  tiheretore,  and  teach  all  nations,  baptiz- 
ing them  in  the  namo  of  the  Father,  an^  of  the  Son,  and  of  the 
Holy  Ghost,  teaching  them  to  observe  all  things  whatsoever  I  have 
commanded  you,  and  lo !  I  am  with  you  always  even  unto  the  end 
of  the  world.  From  the  'whole  conncetion  in  the  gentleman's 
speech,  I  understand  him  to  mean  that  we  have  iitfhe  "httle  book  " 
the  ground  of  a  title  to  Oregon,  and  to  citilize,  and  christianise  that 
people.  I  ask  then,  has  not  Great  Britain  as  good  a  right  to  go 
there,  as  we  have  for  that  purpose,  or  t)enmark,  or  Sweden,  as 
either?  I  would  say  to  them  all,  go  by  yonr  heralds,  if  there  is 
room,  and  people  there,  and  contend  earnestly  for  the  faith  once 
delivered  to  the  saints.  Subdue  the  rebel  to  God.  Bring  his  every 
thought  into  subjection  to  the  mind  of  Christ.      And  as  much  as  1 


16 


nih  oppoMrd  to  war  I  should  like  to  |{o  there  myself,  and  b666Aie  a 
humble  instrument  and  leader  in  such  a  contention,  to  suhjeet  every 
herdman  to  the  same  blessed  government.  In  this  war  I  glory 
where  the  contest  nnd  wrestling  is  not  against  jltsh  and  blood,-  but 
against  principalities,  against  powet  s,  against  the  rulers  of  the  dark' 
ness  of  this  world,  and  against  spiritual  wickedness  in  high  places, 
Sir,  1  should  say,  ii  1  were  allowed  to  go  on  in  this  House,  I  knovr 
nut  when,  how,  or  where  I  should  finish  my  speech,  with  the  thotightti 
suggested  by  the  words  last  quoted  from  the  "  little  book  "  ujion  the 
Speaker's  table.  Bnt  I  am  confident  I  should  say  enough  myself  to 
make  a  small  book  for  the  consideration  of  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives. But  I  forbear.  A  Word  to  the  wise  is  sufficient.  A 
word  more,'  and  I  will  relieve  the  patience  of  the  House.  S'tt,-  ws 
must  not  underrate  the  power,  and  influence  of  the  sonft  of  strife.-^ 
It  is  great.  They  have  always  been  the  plague  of  the  world  and* 
forever  will  be  so,-  Ontil  they  are  put  down  by  superior  power. 

There  does  no(  exist  the  great  difficulty  which  many  imagitid*. 
There  is  territory  enough  for  Abfani  and  Lot  both,  and  if  there  is 
nny  danger  from  any  quarter  that  either  of  the  families  will  b« 
broken  up,  or  sufiifer  severely  in  consequence  of  future  changes,  it 
h  not  because  they  need  more  land,  ior  they  both  have  too  much 
already.  And  it  ia  much  mure  Irkely  that  trouble  will  sooner  come 
by  having  too  much,  than  too  little,  for  the  more  they  have,  the 
more  herdmen  wUl  they  have  of  course  ^  and  if  so,  of  consequence 
strife  will  increase^  And  in  truth  there  ia  nothing  of  an  outward 
nature,  mofe  likely  to  produce  coHisions  aAiong  themselves  in  their 
own  families,  than  that  their  respective  territories  are  so  much  too 
large.  And  shall  they  fight  one  another  for  more  ?  Forbid  it/ 
reason  ;  forbid  it^  honor ;  forbid  it,  common  sense ;'  forbid  it,  interest  i 
torbid  it,  all  virtue  and  humanity. 

Yours  with  the  moat  profound  respect, 

LUTHER  BAKER^ 

Nbw-'B'edforo,  Marclr  13,  184&. 


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